OpenClaw on GCP: Deploy OpenClaw on Google Cloud Platform

Run OpenClaw on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to keep your AI agent running 24/7 without relying on your local machine.

This setup is ideal if you want a reliable production deployment with low monthly cost and high uptime.

Minimum PC Requirements

Component	Minimum Requirement	Recommended
CPU	Dual-Core Processor	Quad-Core (Intel i5 / Ryzen 5)
RAM	4GB	8GB+
Storage	10GB Free	20GB+
Internet	10 Mbps	25 Mbps+
Operating System	Windows 10 / Linux / macOS	Windows 11 / Linux
Terminal Access	Command Prompt / PowerShell / Terminal	Windows Terminal
Browser	Chrome / Edge / Firefox	Latest version

Recommended GCP VM Specs

Machine Type	CPU	RAM	Recommendation
`e2-micro`	Shared	1GB	Not recommended
`e2-small`	2 vCPU	2GB	Minimum
`e2-medium`	2 vCPU	4GB	Recommended

How to Run OpenClaw on GCP?

Step 1: Install the gcloud CLI

Install the Google Cloud CLI on your local machine:

https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install

Once installed, initialize and authenticate:

gcloud init
gcloud auth login

Alternatively, every step in this guide can also be done through the Google Cloud Console at https://console.cloud.google.com/

Step 2: Create a GCP Project

Create a new project for your OpenClaw deployment:

gcloud projects create my-openclaw-project --name="OpenClaw Gateway"
gcloud config set project my-openclaw-project

Enable billing for the project at https://console.cloud.google.com/billing (required for Compute Engine). Then enable the Compute Engine API:

gcloud services enable compute.googleapis.com

Step 3: Create the Compute Engine VM

Create a VM with Debian 12 and a 20GB boot disk:

gcloud compute instances create openclaw-gateway \
  --zone=us-central1-a \
  --machine-type=e2-small \
  --boot-disk-size=20GB \
  --image-family=debian-12 \
  --image-project=debian-cloud

gcloud CLI - project setup, enable APIs, and create Compute Engine VM

Step 4: SSH Into the VM

gcloud compute ssh openclaw-gateway --zone=us-central1-a

If the connection is refused, wait 1-2 minutes after VM creation for SSH key propagation, then retry.

Step 5: Install Docker

Inside the VM, run:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y git curl ca-certificates
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Log out for the group change to take effect:

exit

SSH back in:

gcloud compute ssh openclaw-gateway --zone=us-central1-a

Verify Docker is working:

docker --version
docker compose version

Installing Docker on GCP VM and verifying the installation

Step 6: Clone the OpenClaw Repository

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

Then create directories:

mkdir -p ~/.openclaw
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/workspace

This ensures your config and workspace survive container rebuilds and VM restarts.

Step 7: Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the repository root:

OPENCLAW_IMAGE=openclaw:latest
OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN=change-me-now
OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_BIND=lan
OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=18789

OPENCLAW_CONFIG_DIR=/home/$USER/.openclaw
OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR=/home/$USER/.openclaw/workspace

GOG_KEYRING_PASSWORD=change-me-now
XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/home/node/.openclaw

Generate strong secrets for OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN and GOG_KEYRING_PASSWORD:

openssl rand -hex 32

Do not commit this file to version control.

Step 8: Configure Docker Compose

Create docker-compose.yml in the repository root:

services:
  openclaw-gateway:
    image: ${OPENCLAW_IMAGE}
    build: .
    restart: unless-stopped
    env_file:
      - .env
    environment:
      - HOME=/home/node
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - TERM=xterm-256color
      - OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_BIND=${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_BIND}
      - OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT}
      - OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN=${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN}
      - GOG_KEYRING_PASSWORD=${GOG_KEYRING_PASSWORD}
      - XDG_CONFIG_HOME=${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}
      - PATH=/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
    volumes:
      - ${OPENCLAW_CONFIG_DIR}:/home/node/.openclaw
      - ${OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR}:/home/node/.openclaw/workspace
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT}:18789"
    command:
      [
        "node",
        "dist/index.js",
        "gateway",
        "--bind",
        "${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_BIND}",
        "--port",
        "${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT}",
        "--allow-unconfigured",
      ]

The port binding 127.0.0.1:18789 keeps the gateway loopback-only on the VM. You access it securely through an SSH tunnel.

Step 9: Build and Launch OpenClaw

Build the Docker image and start the container:

docker compose build
docker compose up -d

Check the container is running:

docker compose ps
docker compose logs -f

Building and launching OpenClaw with Docker Compose on GCP

Step 10: Configure Allowed Origins

When binding to LAN, set the trusted browser origin:

docker compose run --rm openclaw-cli config set gateway.controlUi.allowedOrigins '["http://127.0.0.1:18789"]' --strict-json

Step 11: Access the Dashboard from Your Local Machine

From your local machine (not the VM), open an SSH tunnel:

gcloud compute ssh openclaw-gateway --zone=us-central1-a -- -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789

Open in your browser:

http://127.0.0.1:18789

Get a tokenized dashboard link:

docker compose run --rm openclaw-cli dashboard --no-open

If the dashboard shows unauthorized or disconnected (1008): pairing required, approve your browser:

docker compose run --rm openclaw-cli devices list
docker compose run --rm openclaw-cli devices approve <requestId>

After setup, connect a messaging channel - Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any other supported app - to start chatting with your agent.

Common Issues and Fix

Issue	Fix
SSH connection refused	`Wait 1-2 min after VM creation for SSH key propagation`
Docker build fails (exit 137 / OOM)	`gcloud compute instances set-machine-type openclaw-gateway --zone=us-central1-a --machine-type=e2-small`
docker: command not found	`Log out and back in after sudo usermod -aG docker $USER`
docker compose not found	`sudo apt-get install -y docker-compose-plugin`
Gateway container not starting	`docker compose logs -f to check error output`
Dashboard shows unauthorized	`docker compose run --rm openclaw-cli devices approve <requestId>`
OS Login permission error	`gcloud compute os-login describe-profile - check IAM permissions`
Container stops after reboot	`Confirm restart: unless-stopped is set in docker-compose.yml`

If you prefer to skip these setup steps entirely, you can deploy OpenClaw on Ampere.sh in 60 seconds. No Docker, no config files, no infrastructure management required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OpenClaw on GCP?

OpenClaw on GCP means running your OpenClaw AI agent on a Google Cloud virtual machine instead of your local computer. This allows your agent to run 24/7 with better reliability and performance.

Can I use GCP free tier for OpenClaw?

Yes, but it's not recommended. The free-tier e2-micro (1GB RAM) often fails during Docker builds or OpenClaw startup.

Do I need Docker to run OpenClaw on GCP?

Yes. OpenClaw is typically deployed using Docker to ensure stable and persistent setup.

Does OpenClaw continue running if I close my PC?

Yes. Once deployed, OpenClaw runs 24/7 on GCP even if your PC is turned off.

Can I upgrade my VM later?

Yes. You can easily upgrade RAM, CPU, and Storage without reinstalling OpenClaw.

What happens if my VM stops?

OpenClaw stops temporarily. Once you restart the VM, OpenClaw resumes automatically if Docker restart is enabled.

Do I need technical knowledge?

Basic knowledge helps, but most steps are copy-paste friendly.

Can I connect OpenClaw to Telegram or WhatsApp?

Yes. After deployment, you can connect Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, and more.

OpenClaw on GCP